The Icelandic Canadian - 01.06.1995, Qupperneq 71

SPRING / SUMMER 1995
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
181
Sylvia Sigurdson was born and raised on
Hecla Island. She can so easily relate to the
events and cultural heritage that shaped
people’s lives there; the deep sense of com-
munity spirit of sharing and caring; the
endless fascination with Lake Winnipeg —
its bounty, its pervasive presence and its
relentless power; the kinship and affinity
for nature and wildlife that were such a vi-
brant part of the lives of children on Hecla
Island.
Thorns Island Home is a delightful story
for children eight to twelve years of age. It
relates the adventures of a motherless
twelve year old girl who comes from Ice-
land to live with her Aunt Ingunn and
Uncle Hannes on Hecla Island. As the
mailboat drops Thora off at the Island
Dock she feels lost and forlorn in a strange
land. Suddenly she is engulfed by a stifling
loneliness for her homeland. Then she is
approached by a young girl named Signy,
who will eventually become her bosom
friend.
When Thora’s Uncle Hannes arrives to
pick her up she is intimidated by his curt
and uncommunicative manner. On their
arrival at the farm she finds her Aunt bed-
ridden and spiritless. As Thora settles in she
wonders what has caused her Aunt’s
strange illness. She tries to cope with her
new surroundings and her new life. Dur-
ing this time she befriends little Arne, his
siblings and his mother, Sigga.
Thora’s Island Home catches the spirit and
frustrations of a young girl adjusting to a
new way of life; her adventures with Signy;
her mortification on her first day at school;
her efforts at strengthening the bonds that
slowly begin go develop between her and
her Aunt, through helping one another.
Throughout all this Thora weaves her
magic spirit into the hearts of her Aunt and
Uncle.
In a moving and poignant way Sylvia
Sigurdson has immersed herself in the
main character of this book. She has writ-
ten with deep insight into the heart and
feelings of a twelve year old girl. The result
is a book that children, as well as adults who
are familiar with the island setting will thor-
oughly enjoy reading.
The close affinity to nature is evident
throughout this book. Pen illustrations,
many of which relate to wildlife, are used
at the beginning of each chapter. The cover
illustrations of Hecla Icelandic village and
Hecla Dockside Fish Station are by Roman
Swiderek (1992) and obtained through the
courtesy of the Gull Harbour Resort and
Conference Centre.
Sylvia Sigurdson and her husband
Stefan, formerly of Riverton, Manitoba,
now reside in White Rock, British Colum-
bia. While living in Riverton, Sylvia served
on the executive of the Hecla Island Soci-
ety in the offices of Vice-President and Sec-
retary. And although she now resides far
away, she continues to take an interest in
the heritage of the island.
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